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Post by Sparkles on Sept 24, 2006 18:24:36 GMT 7
I have been learning so much since I got my incubator - and I actually have 3 doz eggs hatching next weekend - yay! I just put another doz eggs in on Friday so thought I would keep a diary of whats happening and share some of what I am learning!! My info mainly comes from books, google and of course the boys and Jess! DIARY OF AN INCUBATOR ..... THE BEGINNINGThe Pekin Bantam eggs arrived in the mail today. Well packaged - none broken. I mark a X on one side and a O on the other so I know to rotate them properly daily. Into the incubator they go!!! (I later read that you should let them sit for 24 hours before putting them in .... whoops). [glow=red,2,300] DAY 1[/glow] When they first go into the incubator they need to be in a full 12 hours before turning. Then they should be turned a minimum of twice daily. On day one, according to my reference book, is the beginning of the digestive canal, spinal column, nervous system, head and eyes! Bummer already - when I was "candling" the others I checked out these as well and managed to drop on. It cracked Good start
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Post by Sparkles on Sept 24, 2006 18:36:38 GMT 7
DAY 2 Ok so Day 2 is the beginning of the heart and ears! Where did they come from? This is where I got my eggs from www.bookachook.com.au. Great business idea I thought! I liked the look of the Pekins as well - hoping for a buff and a blue hen to keep myself! The rest will go to new homes!
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Post by Peter on Sept 25, 2006 5:37:14 GMT 7
I was wondering why there were only 11 This is cool! I'll try and find some pics of the embryo developent. (Remeber what I told you bout the brain and eyes developing first........)
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Post by Sparkles on Sept 26, 2006 18:20:16 GMT 7
Oh right - you mean when I said I dropped an egg and it had two black balls in it and you said that was its eyes and how did I feel!!
DAY 3
Sorry guys - missed a day (family fun)! Today I "candled them again and by my count I have 2 fertile and 9 duds! It is still way too early to be conclusive but I like to see how my guesses go!
So on day 3 the heart begins to beat and the wings and legs begin to form! Isn't it amazing how quickly they develop!
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Post by Sparkles on Sept 26, 2006 18:21:48 GMT 7
DAY 4 Just turned the eggs and candled at the same time. Still convinced I only have 2 fertile eggs - but like they say, don't count your chickens before they hatch On day four the tongue begins to grow
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Post by Peter on Sept 27, 2006 5:44:11 GMT 7
Oh right - you mean when I said I dropped an egg and it had two black balls in it and you said that was its eyes and how did I feel!! Thats because they have big googley eyes when they are more developed. I thought it was further along. lol Dont forget to keep the humidity up when they hatch! DAY 5 Their lips develope......lol here are some pics I found to help with bels experiences! A fertile egg being candled The reason why I thought it was the eyes when you said 2 big black things:
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Post by Matt on Sept 27, 2006 11:01:06 GMT 7
What ever happened to the diary keeping? Got a little distracted with the new ducks did we?? LOL. How do Fred and "Ethal" like the females??
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Post by Natenla on Oct 3, 2006 17:38:08 GMT 7
Yeah how many are fertile now??
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Post by Sparkles on Oct 12, 2006 18:39:56 GMT 7
Hey guys - I'm sorry for not keeping up with this. Work has been unbelievably busy. Meanwhile tomorrow is HATCHING DAY!!! I ended up with 4 fertile eggs - 3 are pipping and starting to break through the shell. One is still quiet - fingers crossed!! I will be sure and post pics once the squirts are outta their shells!!
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Post by Silvercloud on Oct 12, 2006 22:52:07 GMT 7
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Post by Sparkles on Oct 13, 2006 19:09:10 GMT 7
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Post by Peter on Oct 14, 2006 5:07:51 GMT 7
I would consider changing the temp just a lil bit one way of the other. We used to have low hatch rate, and sometimes that was the problem. It takes a while to get perfect.
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Post by Matt on Oct 14, 2006 6:45:06 GMT 7
Did you try spraying them with a mister? I think the humidity sounds too low and is affecting the hatching success.
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Post by Sparkles on Oct 14, 2006 13:32:16 GMT 7
Well the other black one hatched fully - and was dead this morning The fourth egg was actually rotten which is why it didn't hatch (couldn't tell from candling). So out of 12 eggs I got one little baby. Knowing my luck it will turn out to be a rooster Matt - I have been spraying, but towards the end - I have been a bit worried about overdoing it with the humidity ... ? Peter - yes I agree re the temp and I thought I had lowered it slightly - only to discover that the dial was just spinning around the bit that actually turns the temp so it hadn't changed. It was on 39 which they maker recommends - but I have lowered slightly to 38. Do you think that is ok??
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Post by Sparkles on Oct 14, 2006 16:20:45 GMT 7
Ok here are some pics ... my lil RIR has feathers coming through. I can't believe how quickly he is growing. And this is the little Ancona - I actually didn't realise they had brown in them ... but look at the spot on his head and back ... And ... taaadaaaa .. this is my new little Pekin Bantam born yesterday ....
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